Water-level indicator and recorder



' 1,641,229 Sept. 6, 1927. G w. LIND WATER LEVEL INDICATOR AND RECORDER Filed March 16. 1923 A TTORNEK' Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUS w. ml), 0] NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

WATER-LEVEL INDICATOR m OOH-DEB.

I Application fled larch 16,

In modern power plants operated by steam power, it is quite essential to economical operation that the water level in the several boilers of the battery be maintained as nearly as possible at a uniform level, notwithstanding the varying drafts upon them. Many efiicient boiler feeding devices are in use which maintain such level under ordinary circumstances; but occasionally they go wron with the result that the water becomes either too high or too low, and if not attended to at once, a dangerous condition follows, sometimes attended. with disastrous results.

The danger is often greater by reason of the fact that the usual try-cocks and water gauge upon the boiler dome are so far above the floor level, sometimes as high as 50 or .60 feet, inaccessible either to vision or for operation.

It is the object of the invention to provide a thermostatically actuated device for not only indicating, at a distance, the water level in a boiler dome, but also for recording the variations in such level, and for sounding an alarm and exhibiting a selective visual signal when such level approaches a point which may endanger the boiler, the purpose of the latter being to give warning in time for corrective measures to be taken.

In the accompanying drawing are shown several forms of the invention, each adapted for particular conditions met with in actual practice.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 illustrates, largely in diagram, the complete device in its simplest form.

Fig. 2 illustrates a slightly modified form to be used where more refined indication and record are deemed advisable.

Fig. 3 shows a further modified form.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of thermostatic element in which the extension and contraction are translated into a direct rotar movement for operating the'indicating an recording elements.

Fig. 5 illustrates in section a detail of the form shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a typical form of dome 1, mounted above and in open com munication with the crown of the boiler, 2, and provided with the usual water column 3, try-cocks 4, and water gauge 5.

The improvement comprises a tube 6,

ma. sen-ii Io. mam.

made of some metal which has a comparatively high coeflicient of expansion, such as brass or copper, and of a greater len h than the diameter of the dome 1, to which it is connected at top and bottom by the tubes 7 and 8 respectively. The tube 6 is rigidly supported upon a frame 9 by a bracket clamp 10, so that its contraction and expansion under changing heat conditions may be in the direction of its length, its connection at the clamp being fixed, The lower end of the tube 6 is guided in a bracket 11 the elasticity of the lower connecting tube 8 permitting such expansion and contraction as may result in actual operation.

The normal water level in the dome 1 and tube 6 may be indicated b the line H, the space above such level ing filled with steam at high temperature and pressure.

The water in the tubes 6 and 8, being somewhat remote from the source of heat, will be at a lower temperature. However, if the level in the dome 1 and tube 6 should rise, the cooler water in the tube will cause it to contract or shorten in a measure exactly roportional to the rise. Likewise, if the evel should fall, the high temperature of the steam will cause the tube 6 to expand or lengthen. And as the upper end of the tube 6 is fixed, the lower end will rise and fall with the rise and fall of the water level.

Connected to the lower end of the tube 6 is a short arm of the lever 12, which is fulcrumed at 13 upon the frame 9, and has its long arm extending horizontally. The slight movement of the lower end of the tube 6 thus gives a considerable movement to the free end of the lever 12, and this multiplied movement is utilized to operate the several devices now to be described.

The free end of the lever 12 may be provided with a segmental rack 13', which meshes with the pinion 14 of .a drum recorder; an index hand or pen point 15 is rigidly connected to the pinion 14, so as to bear upon the record sheet 16, wound upon the drum 17 of the recorder. The drum is driven by the clock 18, and makes one revolution in twenty-four hours, so that a complete record of the fluctuations of the water level in the dome 1 and tube 6 will be made u on the sheet 16.

Shou d it be desired to use a disk recorder, as 18', in addition to or as a substitute for I cator dial with a scale 21, and an index hand 22, pivoted at 23 sweeps over the scale. From the short arm of the hand 22, a cable or wire 24 is led back over guides, diagrammatically represented by the single pulley 25, to the lever 12.

A spring 26 is connected to the hand 22, as shown, so that the wire 24 ma be kept taut, and any variation in'the ength of said wire may be taken care of by the takeup 27 upon the hand 22. This take-up which is adjustable on the end of the wire 24 is also utilized to adjust the hand 22 to the 0-point on the scale when the water level in the dome is at the 0-0 line. The scale may be calibrated to represent inches or any other measure of rise and fall of the dome water level.

In order to indicate the approach of the water level in the dome to either the high or low danger line, there is introduced both an audible and a visual alarm or signal, the audible alarm for the purpose of calling attention to the condition, and the visual alarm or signal, for locating the particular boiler, and also indicating whether the level is high or low. I

At the extremities of the scale 21, are contacts 28, 29, and lead therefrom are two circuit wires 30, 31, respectively to the red and green incandescent lamps R and G,

- which latter are placed in close proximity to the particular boiler of the battery whose level is controlled by the unit.

The return wire 32 leads through the audible signal, which may be a bell, a buzzer, an electrically operated whistle or a horn, and typically shown at B; thence back to the battery 33 (or to any source of electricity),the circuit being completed by the wire 34 leading fromthe hand 22 to the other battery terminal. If desired, the source of current may be a power or lighting circuit, to which the Wires 32, 34 may be connected by the double pole switch 35.

A disk recorder 36 may be located adjacent to and operated by the index hand 22, by the wire or cable 37. This recorder may be in addition to or in place of the other recorders 14' and 18.

When the water level in the dome 1, deviates from the normal line 0-0, it will be attended by a corresponding variation in the length of the tube 6, which will be communicated by the lever 12 to the recorders 14' or 18'or both, if both forms are used; also throu h the cable 24 to the index hand 22. Shouiii such deviation of level approach the danger points, either high or low, then the hand 22 would close the circuit at contact 28 or 29, and the audible alarm would be sounded; at the same time the corresponding lamp R or G would be lighted, thus indicating, not onl the particular boiler in the battery needing attention, but also its pondition, high or low, by the color of the I it should be desired to change the high or low levels in the dome 1 at which the signal B may be sounded, or the lamps R and G lighted, this may be done by shifting the contacts 28-29 to the points 39, 38; that is, nearer to or farther from the 0, or middle point of the scale 21, so that the hand 22 will contact with them for correspondingly higher or lower levels.

In order to drain or blow out the tubes 6, 7 and 8, a cock 40 may be provided in the tube 7, and a 3-way cook 41 in the-tube 8, the latter s0 arranged that it may close the connection to the dome 1, but open the tube 8 to the atmosphere. Normally, said cocks are open between the dome and tubes 7, 8. But by opening the cock 41, to the atmosphere, the steam in the dome will flow freely through the three tubes, and clean out any accumulated sediment. Or both cocks may be closed to the dome, and the entire thermostatic set may be removed for inspection, repair or replacement.

Where a greater rangelof movement of the lower end of the tube 6 is desired, in order to provide for more sensitive action, this may be accomplished by the form shown in Fig. 2, where the thermostatic tube 6' is made longer, and its extremities connected diagonally to the oppositely directed tubes 7 and 8'. In this manner, a greater length of the tube 6 is subjected to the changing temperature dueto the rise and fall of the water level in the dome 1. The lever 12 is correspondingly bent so that its long arm may be horizontal, and connected up to the recording and indicating devices in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1.

If a still greater range of movement is desired, the'tube 6" may be located diagonally along the side of the dome 1, as shown in ig. 3, with a correspondingly greater length of the .tube subjected to the changes of tem rature, as above described.

In ig. 4, is shown a thermostatic tube -6 in the form of a coil, with its ends bent back into the axis of the coil. The upper end is connected to the tube 7 which leads to the crown of the dome 1, and is held in fixed relation by the clam ing bracket 10 The lower end is inserte into a T 45 the end of the tube 8, which leads from the lower part of the dome. The T is provided with a chamber 46, and the'end of the tube 6 has a series of lateral apertures 47, so as to afford free communication between the tubes. The lower end of tube 6 is closed by the screw-threaded rod or shaft 48, which freely rotates in the bearing bracket 11, and has the arm or lever 12 secured thereto, for operating the several indicating and recording devices, in a manner readily understood without further description or illustration.

In order to form a steam tight joint for the T 45, the packing glands 49 are provided upon the arms of the T, as shown on Fi 5. In this form, since the upper end of the tube 6 is held against rotation by the bracket 10*, the expansion and contraction will be along the direction of the axis of the tube, resulting in a rotation of the lower end about the axis of the coil, and within the T45.

This form of the device permits a greater length of the thermostatic tube to be included within the high and low limits of the water level, and is consequently more sensitive to temperature changes due to the change in such level. This sensitiveness may be increased by more closely coiling the tube, and increasing the number of convolutions therein.

From the foregoing descri tion, it will be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by very sim le means, and while several forms have been shown and described, yet I do not wish to be considered as limiting my invention to such forms alone, since other modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art which will be within the scope of my invention.

-I claim 1. Ina water level indicator and recorder for steamboilers, the combination with the dome'of a steam boiler, of a metallic tube having a high coefiicient of heat expansion, means for connecting said tube at its upper end ri idly to and in open communication with the boiler dome at a point above the normal water level therein, means for ieldingly connecting the lower end of sai tube to said dome at a point below the normal Water level therein and in open communication therewith, said tube having its axis inclined from a vertical plane, whereby its operative length is materially increased, and means including a pivoted arm connected with the lower end of said tube and actuated by the expansion and contraction thereof for both indicating and recording changes inthe water level in said dome.

2. In a water-level indicator and recorder for steam boilers, the combination with a boiler dome, of a thermostatic tube, means for securing the upper end of said tube rigidly to the top of said dome, a yieldin connection between the lower end of sai tube and bottom of said dome, said tube having its axis inclined from the vertical and its respective ends being in open communication with the top and bottom of said dome, a pivoted lever operatively connected with the lower end of said tube, said lever having means for recording the expansion and contraction thereof due to the rise and fall of the water level in said dome, and means associated with the recording means for visually indicating sucli fluctuations of the water at a point remote from the recording means.

GUS W. LIND. 

